Latest news with #LaboratorioOccupatoMorion
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's wedding 'under threat'; 'richest and most dangerous man in the world' is holding our home hostage, claim protestors
The much-anticipated wedding of billionaire Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez , set for June 24 in Venice, is facing fierce backlash from residents and activists who claim the lavish event is turning the historic city into a "playground for the wealthy." The $10 million celebration, planned on the island of San Giorgio Maggiore, has triggered protests over blocked streets, luxury hotel takeovers, and environmental concerns, threatening to disrupt the Floating City during its peak tourist season. Venice locals are furious Venetians are furious over the scale of the wedding, which has led to Bezos reserving five opulent hotels and every water taxi in the city, according to a Daily Mail report. Enhanced security measures, including a heavy police presence, closed streets, and restricted airspace, are expected to accommodate an A-list guest list of celebrities, politicians, and business tycoons. The disruptions coincide with Venice's busiest travel period, exacerbating tensions in a city already strained by mass tourism. Local activist group Laboratorio Occupato Morion, which describes itself as an "anti-fascist, anti-capitalist, anti-racist, and trans-feminist political space," is leading the charge against the event. The group has planned a protest for this Friday near St. Mark's Square, with a larger demonstration scheduled for the wedding day. Their rallying cry, 'No space for Bezos, No space for oligarchs!' is emblazoned on flyers featuring Bezos' head atop a rocket, accusing him of treating Venice as a personal playground. 'Jeff Bezos believes he can purchase the entire city,' the group's flyer declares. 'Those who live in Venice on a daily basis are left with discomfort, exclusion, and precariousness.' What are concerns regarding Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez wedding The wedding's environmental impact is a major point of contention. Venice's fragile lagoon and polluted canals are already under strain from overtourism, and the arrival of private jets—though Bezos' four Gulfstream jets will be joined by others—adds to the city's carbon footprint. His $500 million superyacht, Koru, cannot dock near Venice due to its size, but the influx of guests is expected to further stress the city's delicate ecosystem. 'Bezos embodies what this city and global movements have been fighting against for decades—a financial and technological oligarchy that exploits workers, the planet, and entire territories,' said Alice Bazzoli, a spokesperson for Laboratorio Occupato Morion, in an interview with the Daily Mail. The group views the wedding as a symbol of growing inequality and the commodification of Venice, a UNESCO World Heritage Site struggling to preserve its cultural and environmental heritage. Full week of protests planned The protests last week is said to be just the beginning, with Laboratorio Occupato Morion planning a series of smaller events in the week leading up to the wedding, culminating in a major demonstration on June 24. Activists argue that the event highlights the broader issue of Venice being overtaken by wealthy elites, leaving locals feeling marginalized in their own city. City officials have not yet commented on the protests or the wedding's logistical arrangements, but the growing unrest signals a clash between Venice's residents and the global elite. As the wedding date approaches, all eyes are on whether Bezos and Sanchez's celebration will proceed as planned or face significant disruptions from an increasingly vocal opposition. AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Time of India
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's ultra-luxury Italian wedding plans in peril as reports of trouble begin to swirl
The biggest wedding of the century apparently seems to be in great jeopardy. Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's wedding in Venice has triggered more than just excitement. Residents and activists are angry about the lavish party scheduled to take place in late June. People in Venice say that the billionaire's big day is turning their city into a playground for the wealthy, with blocked streets and luxury takeovers. Why are Venetians protesting the Bezos wedding? Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's $10 million wedding in Venice has sparked protests. Activist groups are preparing massive protests against Bezos and the local government. The incensed residents claim that the "richest and most dangerous man in the world" is holding their home hostage, as per a report by the Daily Mail. ALSO READ: Blake Lively's business takes a hit as Taylor Swift fans boycott products over allegations in Baldoni lawsuit Live Events The couple's much-anticipated wedding is scheduled for the weekend of June 24 in the Floating City. For the wedding day itself, Jeff Bezos is reportedly occupying the island of San Giorgio Maggiore, completely reserving five opulent hotels and every water taxi in Venice. Just as Venice's busiest travel season begins, heavy police presence, closed streets and airspace, and enhanced security are all necessary for the anticipated attendance of A-list celebrities, politicians, and business executives, as per a report by the Daily Mail. Although Bezos owns four Gulfstream jets, guests are likely to arrive at local airports in gas-guzzling private aircraft. However, the 61-year-old is unable to dock his $500 million superyacht Koru because it is too large to anchor near Venice. What impact is the wedding having on Venice? With Venice's canals filthy and the city's delicate lagoon being destroyed by mass tourism, the enormous carbon footprint of Bezos and his laden guests will only aggravate the locals. Self-described as a "anti-fascist, anti-capitalist, anti-racist, and trans-feminist political space," the Laboratorio Occupato Morion is already organising a protest event for Friday at its social center, which is just a short stroll from the city's historic St. Mark's Square. Why is the backlash growing? With the slogan, 'No space for Bezos, No space for oligarchs!' and a picture of Bezos' head atop a rocket, the group has already started promoting the protest online. "Jeff Bezos believes he can purchase the entire city, let's throw him a party!" the flyer says, adding information about Friday's protest. The flyer states, "Those who live in Venice on a daily basis are left with discomfort, exclusion, and precariousness, while Venice is transformed into yet another playground for billionaires." The group states, "Bezos embodies what this city and global movements have been fighting against for decades, a financial and technological oligarchy that exploits workers, the planet, and entire territories and populations." "The event is just the beginning and will culminate in a 'big demonstration' on the actual wedding day," Alice Bazzoli, a spokesperson for Laboratorio Occupato Morion, told Daily Mail. In the week leading up to the wedding, they intend to hold a variety of small-scale events, culminating in a large-scale protest on the wedding day. FAQs Why are people so upset about Jeff Bezos' wedding in Venice? Locals believe the rich are taking over their city, with tight security, closed spaces, and environmental concerns disrupting life during peak tourist season. Is a protest planned? Yes, activists are planning events and a large demonstration on the wedding day to protest the disruption and Bezos' presence.
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's glamorous Venice wedding hit with protests: Here's why locals are fuming
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's lavish Italian wedding may still be weeks out, but it's already stirring controversy in Venice. Locals are voicing outrage, claiming their city is being "held hostage" by the "richest and most dangerous man in the world," as preparations for the high-profile event disrupt their ecosystem. Also Read: Taylor Swift mocked for her handwriting, font of latest letter to fans: 'Can barely read' Set for the weekend of June 24, Bezos and Sanchez's highly anticipated wedding in Venice has sparked frustration among locals. Many Venetians accuse the billionaire of transforming their city into a 'playground' for the ultra-wealthy and are reportedly organizing protests to push back against the disruption. Their wedding is expected to be decorated with various A-list celebrities and politicians, which means there will be a lot of security, street and airspace closures along with a strong police presence right when the city will witness its peak tourist season. The Laboratorio Occupato Morion, a self-described 'anti-fascist, anti-capitalist, anti-racist and trans-feminist political space' has already made plans to organise a protest against the Amazon founder on Friday in the city which is only at a short walk's distance from St. Mark's Square. The group also advertised the protest online as they shared flyers with the slogan 'No space for Bezos, No space for oligarchs!' The flyer further read, 'Jeff Bezos thinks he can buy the entire city - let's throw him a party!' along with details of the Friday protest. The spokesperson of The Laboratorio Occupato Morion group, Alice Bazzoli, told Daily Mail that Friday's protest is just a demonstration which will culminate in a 'big demonstration' on the wedding day. She continued, 'Tomorrow will mark the first public assembly, an open call to citizens, grassroots movements, and associations to organize demonstrations during Jeff Bezos' stay in Venice for his luxurious wedding.' Bazzoli added, 'We plan to have lots of different small actions in the week before the wedding and to converge in a big demonstration on the day of the wedding.' She further explained, 'During this period, the city will be held hostage by one of the world's richest men, becoming heavily militarized and deprived of its spaces and services. Bezos has rented an entire island, numerous hotels, taxis, and services to host his party and guests. This will exacerbate the already problematic movement around the city, particularly with the onset of the tourist season.' She also remarked, 'We cannot accept the presence of such a character in our city, which has a strong anti-fascist tradition, and rejects oligarchs who support authoritarian governments, such as Trump's USA.'
